so what you're saying is Calder
- TheMussel

Unfortunately, he's too old to win the Calder.

It was.

First impressions, which mean little in the overall scheme - ignoring the good players who we know will be on the team . . .

Boyd was involved and good. Robertson has a cannon. Barbonov was not impressive to me. He was engaged, but not overly effective. Lehtonen looked more NHL ready than Sandin or Liljegren - who I'm really beginning to question if he has an NHL future with this team - or Dermott, if I'm being fair. Vesey looked like he belongs. Chartier, who I've honestly never heard of, had a number of decent chances, too. From a peek at Eliteprospects, he was a former Shark who is now a Marlie. He was still noticeable, even if he's not going to be an NHLer. I didn't catch too much from Anderson, and while Brooks scored a goal on a lucky bounce, I don't think he did too much otherwise.

Seeing one scrimmage where no one is really trying all that hard isn't really fair - it was just more wondering who was capable of doing what. Some guys I thought would be flashier (like Barbanov) weren't in this game.
- Monkeypunk

Liljegren is 21 years old and d-man. It takes time. He made significant strides on the Marlies and should continue to marinate in the AHL on the top pairing for another season or so.

I find it hysterical that some (not saying you) are willing to give Dermott an incredible amount of leash and opportunity despite his perpetual, mind-numbing mediocreness and yet with Tim they're willing to throw him in the trash can after only a handful of games.

I don't like Simonds on the 1st pp. At all. It won't last.
- fifty__missions

It might last. The Leafs need a physical presence to muck it up in front of the goalie to give the stars more room to maneuver and generate better scoring chances.

In theory...

Lots of mixing and matching game to game and within games. It’s not clear, for example, that Elephant Joe can play as many minutes as Matthews and Marner so we’ll likely see some blender work.
- Canada Cup

Which is why I'd like to see Robertson on this team. Give Jumbo Joe a rest every few shifts and put the kid out there on the top line to add a bit of speed and a different look (a shooting winger!).

Not sure why I am surprised...
I'm impressed, Arnie.
Very well said without any fancy words - just the plain truth.
- 21peter

Arnie is very intelligent and a very committed environmentalist. I don’t agree with him on everything but he’s pretty damned principled (with a few slip ups but who doesn’t love a woman in uniform) and deeply opposed to Trump.

New blog everyone

Which is why I'd like to see Robertson on this team. Give Jumbo Joe a rest every few shifts and put the kid out there on the top line to add a bit of speed and a different look (a shooting winger!).
- mjones242

At this point, he’d have to replace Spezza, Engvall or Sinmonds. I could see them rotate him in depending on how heavy they want their bottom end (sexy) game to game. Of course if Vesey falters, that changes things.

New blog everyone
- Steven_Seagull

- winsix

But there is...

Are you sure you are not going out on too much of a limb with that? After all Simmonds only averaged 28 goals a season for 7 years prior to the last two seasons, while Clifford has managed 61 goals in 676 NHL games.
- winsix

I think his play has really deteriorated. His goals have gone from 31 to 24 to 17 to 8 over the past 4 years. If he rebounds his style to where he was, that would be great - but I am VERY pessimistic about his abilities. But the worst case scenario (to me at least) is that he can at least fill the same role that Clifford provided, with better hands and better offensive abilities.

History is not on the side of him rebounding after 4 consecutive down years, but he might be able to do better than his 8 goal performance from last year.

Arnie is very intelligent and a very committed environmentalist. I don’t agree with him on everything but he’s pretty damned principled (with a few slip ups but who doesn’t love a woman in uniform) and deeply opposed to Trump.
- Canada Cup

I agree with almost everything he said but comparing this event to Kristallnacht is an insane overreach.

10s of thousands of Jews were arrested, thousands of businesses destroyed, hundreds died as a result of that event.

The USA is bonkers right now but the constant allusions to Nazi Germany are insanely detrimental to trying to peaceably join a very fractured nation. When you have one half of the country constantly alluding to the other half as White Supremacists, bigots, and Nazis, you're adding jet fuel to a fire that's already burning.

Enough.

At this point, he’d have to replace Spezza, Engvall or Sinmonds. I could see them rotate him in depending on how heavy they want their bottom end (sexy) game to game. Of course if Vesey falters, that changes things.
- Canada Cup

Barabanov.

I agree with almost everything he said but comparing this event to Kristallnacht is an insane overreach.

10s of thousands of Jews were arrested, thousands of businesses destroyed, hundreds died as a result of that event.

The USA is bonkers right now but the constant allusions to Nazi Germany are insanely detrimental to trying to peaceably join a very fractured nation. When you have one half of the country constantly alluding to the other half as White Supremacists, bigots, and Nazis, you're adding jet fuel to a fire that's already burning.

Enough.
- mjones242

So you do not think there is a sizeable percentage of citizens of the USA that are racist and maybe bordering on White Supremicists?

I think his play has really deteriorated. His goals have gone from 31 to 24 to 17 to 8 over the past 4 years. If he rebounds his style to where he was, that would be great - but I am VERY pessimistic about his abilities. But the worst case scenario (to me at least) is that he can at least fill the same role that Clifford provided, with better hands and better offensive abilities.

History is not on the side of him rebounding after 4 consecutive down years, but he might be able to do better than his 8 goal performance from last year.
- Monkeypunk

Actually three years, 4 seasons ago he had 31 goals, and he's had injury issues for the past three seasons including the seasons of 24 goals 3 years ago and 17 two seasons ago (Clifford has eclipsed 10 goals once in 10 seasons). He's always elevated his game in Toronto and is only 32. No reason he can't have a few good seasons here. Comparing him to Kyle Clifford who may be 3 years younger but has never been an offensive producer is not exactly reasonable in my view.

Actually three years, 4 seasons ago he had 31 goals, and he's had injury issues for the past three seasons including the seasons of 24 goals 3 years ago and 17 two seasons ago (Clifford has eclipsed 10 goals once in 10 seasons). He's always elevated his game in Toronto and is only 32. No reason he can't have a few good seasons here. Comparing him to Kyle Clifford who may be 3 years younger but has never been an offensive producer is not exactly reasonable in my view.
- winsix

BTW, not to ignore your response on this - I just wanted to say that what I envision for Simmonds is slotting into the same role as Clifford. I don't actually expect much more from him, but if we get it that would be wonderful.

This is what leadership looks like:

https://mobile.twitter.co...tatus/1348249481284874240
- Atomic Wedgie

The Oak kicking out the real deal.

Arnie is very intelligent and a very committed environmentalist. I don’t agree with him on everything but he’s pretty damned principled (with a few slip ups but who doesn’t love a woman in uniform) and deeply opposed to Trump.
- Canada Cup

And he did more work in a single workout than Trump's entire family has ever done.

I agree with almost everything he said but comparing this event to Kristallnacht is an insane overreach.

10s of thousands of Jews were arrested, thousands of businesses destroyed, hundreds died as a result of that event.

The USA is bonkers right now but the constant allusions to Nazi Germany are insanely detrimental to trying to peaceably join a very fractured nation. When you have one half of the country constantly alluding to the other half as White Supremacists, bigots, and Nazis, you're adding jet fuel to a fire that's already burning.

Enough.
- mjones242

Pretending an election was rigged that was not is straight fascistic. It's 2 +2 = 5. I think pointing to where that leads is entirely appropriate. If the MAGAs don't want to be called Nazis, they can stop acting like them.